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Posted on Mon, Dec 24, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.

Washtenaw County Salvation Army $40K behind donation goal

By Katrease Stafford

Major John Williams of The Salvation Army poses with a pile of toys and food collected from Sunday's Stuff the Blue Goose event in Saline. Williams said they have 1,500 families signed up to participate in the Salvation Army Toy Shop on Dec. 19. "We don't want any child to go without a toy under the tree, " he said.

Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com

The Washtenaw County Salvation Army is $40,000 short of its 2012 Red Kettle Fundraising Campaign and will continue to host bell ringers and kettles through Saturday.

"We're still $40,000 short at this point," said Major John Williams, the Washtenaw County coordinator. "That's the number we've been working on and that's why we're going to ring bells Wednesday through Saturday. That's kind of unprecedented and we haven't done that in the past."

The Salvation Army has a $330,000 goal to reach and Williams said typically, the goal would have been met by Christmas Eve. Earlier this month, Williams said the organization has seen a $25,000 decline in donations for the first time in five years.

"We're very optimistic that we'll reach the goal, it's just unusual that we wouldn't have it by Christmas Eve," Williams said.

Typically, the Salvation Army begins to round up its volunteers and kettles by Christmas Eve. This year, they will remain at everyKroger and Busch's within Washtenaw County through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"We'll be having four more days of ringing and probably a lot of people still shopping or perhaps taking back gifts," Williams said. "There should be a good amount of traffic and we’ve hand selected our very best eight to ten ringers that have committed to ringing during these extra days."

Williams said it's critical the organization raises the funds in order for them to continue providing services to the less fortunate.

"It's critical," Williams said. "We help from pantry items to utilities and housing and larger bills. It would be funds less available for that."

Donations will be accepted through Thursday, Jan. 31, Williams said and can be made in person, online or by mailing a check to the Salvation Army.